AP Chemistry
| Department | Science |
|---|---|
| Length | Year |
| Credit type | Weighted |
| Teacher(s) | Dr. Mellows Mrs. Zizmor |
AP Chemistry is an advanced Chemistry course usually taken by juniors or seniors.
Course catalog description
This course will prepare students to take the AP Chemistry examination. Life is Chemistry! In AP Chemistry, we will build on the foundation you have from your first-year chemistry. course. This will not be your typical lecture- based chemistry course. The educational philosophy behind the. course lies in hands-on learning, and inquiry, which will challenge all types of learners. Therefore, students. will be spending at least 40% of their time on laboratory work, some of which may need to be completed outside of class. The expectations for this class are to have second-year chemistry students who are excited about learning chemistry, love being in lab, and are willing to work through challenges. IMPORTANT NOTE: The AP Chemistry course is taught through lab performance and analysis. Students are required to utilize the knowledge taught in their first-year chemistry course, as that material will not be retaught. An assessment of core prerequisite skills will be administered within the first two weeks of school. Summer learning materials will be provided to support this assessment. • Prerequisites: Successful completion of Chemistry OR Chemistry H and a very strong understanding of first- year chemistry. Successful completion of a second-year algebra course (Alg 2 or higher). Students need a strong knowledge of Algebra 2 and a high confidence in problem solving skills. on: 2-3 hours uninterrupted time per week (assigned homework: 1-2 hours; lab reports: 1 hour) • Homework Expectation: 3 to 6 hours uninterrupted time per week
Structure
Most of the work for AP Chem is done in class, especially the labs, which can be considered the most important part of class. There is also textbook homework and worksheets assigned, although they are relatively manageable. There is some independent study needed to succeed in the course, though, as the amount of homework assigned could be inadequate for some students to master the material. The assessments in AP Chem are generally exams, lab quizzes and practicals, and projects. Each of them is graded using EBG grading. Students are expected to remember most of their first-year chemistry course; AP Chem does only a brief review of concepts in Chem H.
Should I take this course?
AP Chem is generally considered to be easier and more enjoyable than Chem H because most of the content is already familiar and because the teachers in AP Chem are more chill. For those who took Chem H with Mellows, you will have an easy year of science. For those who took Chem H with O'Connell, you will need to get used to all the labs in AP Chem. If you were in regular Chem, AP Chem will still be a significant step up in rigor, but it should still be manageable. Overall, take AP Chem if you like Chemistry and want to do a lot of labs. Note however that AP Chem uses SBG (standards-based grading), so your grade will likely be a B or C at the beginning of the semester as you are learning the content. However, it should go up over time, especially if you take advantage of retakes. You will not regret your decision, unlike your decision to take Chem H.